MEDIA RELEASE - Campaign Launches: WE ARE THE SOO!

MEDIA RELEASE

New Campaign Launches: WE ARE THE SOO!

Campaign calls on community to focus on positive,

unite to move the community forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2016

Sault Ste. Marie – The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) launched a new campaign on Friday morning aimed at focusing on the many positive aspects of living and doing business in Sault Ste. Marie. WE ARE THE SOO is calling on individuals, businesses, stakeholders and those with ties to the Sault to share their stories of why Sault Ste. Marie is a good place to live, work, play and invest.

SSMCOC President, Paul Johnson notes that Sault Ste. Marie has had its share threats over the years, many of them economic. He says: “As a northern community that largely relies on steel for direct and indirect employment, we have been toughened by the boom and bust cycles of a global commodity market. More than once, we have had to weather downturns while digging in to keep producing some of the best-quality steel in the world.”

Johnson notes that Essar Steel Algoma’s current situation and the uncertainty, layoffs, and impacts on creditors and on the community have been hard on all everyone. He suggests that with “more bidder review, we now have a few more months to see Algoma emerge as a viable business and once again, a leader in the steel industry.”

The Chamber feels that we are now at a point where all stakeholders and members of the community need to come together for civil and constructive discussions on moving forward, especially where our steel industry is concerned. The first step toward doing so and showing interested investors that we are serious as a community about supporting their efforts is to remind ourselves that our community is worth investing in.

WE ARE THE SOO includes an online home for the many stories that unite us as a community. It is meant to reflect our passion for who we are, and provide a platform where we can share and show the world that the Sault is a resilient, hard-working and positive community and a worthwhile place to set up shop.

In the spring and fall of this year the SSMCOC succeeded in having adopted at the Provincial and Federal Chambers of Commerce, policy directives that engaged the 60,000 business of Ontario and over 200,000 businesses from across Canada to stand behind and support the steel industry.

The WE ARE THE SOO campaign aligns with the Chamber’s new strategic plan, VISION 2020 introduced last month at its Annual General Meeting.

The Chamber invites you to visit www.wearethesoo.com to learn more about the campaign and to share your stories.

About the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of 700 plus business and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community. www.ssmcoc.com